After some reading, I thought I would introduce myself. I am just starting to get ready to start reloading. My wife bought me some stuff at a yard sale including: RCBS Special 5 press kit that includes a 505 scale, primer tray, case lube pad, a 22-45 cal funnel, a dial caliper case length gage, a case loading block, and some hammer looking thing that is clear green plastic. In the basket of stuff, there was also a die set for a .32 Win Special, a Lee Auto Prime, a 2 Vol set of Hornady 4th edition, a Speer Reloading manual, assorted bullets (no of which I will use), shot (for 12 gage), and a bag of 100 wads.

To go with the wads, there was a MEC 650N progressive reloader that neither the press nor the attachments look like they have been used. My wife just stumbles onto these things. She paid $100 for all of it so I would spend more time in my shop and save money at the same time.

I also found a Lyman Reloading and cast bullet guide for getting started in reloading and casting.

I know there are newer offerings of these books, but do I need to go to the expense, or will these get me going? I will be reloading: 45 ACP, 357 mag, 380 auto, 223/5.56 NATO, 300 Win Mag, and since I have the equipment, 12 gage. I will be doing some reading on here and in whatever books you suggest. I have already found that sometimes it will be cheaper to buy some bullets in a box and reload them versus buying new cases?

Welcome. Yeah like others have said, sounds like you have a good start.. If you have any questions, please ask, and if you get a chance email,write or call your reps about gun legislation... Sorry don't mean to sound pushy but we all need to. Thanks and again, welcome Wiggy

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" The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to
keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect
themselves against tyranny in Government...." - Thomas Jefferson

That 'hammer looking thing' will be your best friend when you screw up and need to disassemble all those bad rounds you made. Trust me, I know.

Couple of suggestions.

1. Reloading is absurdly addictive. Don't be tempted to make 200 rounds before you even fire them. Make ten at a time, put them in a baggie with a brief description of the powder, charge weight and OAL. That way if/when they don't function right you'll only be out that ten. By all means try a few different loads, just don't go making hundreds until you see what works in YOUR gun.

2. Start with 45acp. Arguably the easiest round to reload for as no trimming is involved and placing that big fat bullet on the case couldn't be easier. Skip rifle and shotgun loads until you get someone to show you how.

3. Controversial, but consider using a Lee Factory Crimp Die. It'll make SURE all your rounds will fit the chamber. It can't compensate for bad OAL lengths, that is your responsibility.

I finally found somebody local (small town) that has been reloading for decades. He is going to help me design a good, funtional, and moveable table. If you all have some pics of your workstations that you are willing to send me for ideas, please do. In exchange for homemade BBQ and homemade wine, he will come over and guide me until he feels comfortable with my progress. He also runs the reloading section of a local farm store. Good advice about keeping track of loads and how that load shoots. I am going to get a 5 section spiral notebook to get me started, then, I will do spreadsheets for each caliber.

The manuals you have are good forever. The early chapters of almost all manuals contain descriptions of and instruction on the loading process. This has not changed much at all in the past 90 to 100 years (since the popularity of smokeless powder supplanted black powder). So, read those chapters of the manuals you have first. Reading different writing styles will broaden your view and expose you to different areas of emphasis.

Having a mentor, you are miles ahead of most beginning reloaders. Lucky you.

The load recipes in the older manuals should be checked against newer manuals, as the formulations of propellants (gunpowders) have evolved over the years and more modern measuring methods have suggested changes for reasons of safety. ALWAYS compare load recipes from different sources and pay attention to the test gun from which they were fired. Every ballistics lab is different.

The 505 and the MEC are well worth the entire purchase price. Your wife is a good shopper.

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